PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ali Pasha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Yakimyuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Pasha
vs
Yakimyuk

162 cm
31
131 lbs
18 - 11 - 2

177 cm
37
167 lbs
28 - 20 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Unity Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Ali Pasha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 20 - 2, fighting out of New York, Roman Yakimyuk!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pasha has closed the distance and engaged Yakimyuk in a clinch.
Yakimyuk wants a takedown.
Yakimyuk blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pasha misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pasha.
Yakimyuk misses with a knee to the head.
Yakimyuk blocking some punches.
Yakimyuk is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Pasha is defending well.
Pasha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pasha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pasha lands a hook that snaps the head of Yakimyuk backwards.
Pasha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yakimyuk is trying to pull guard but Pasha turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ali Pasha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Yakimyuk.
Pasha swings wildly with an uppercut but Yakimyuk uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Pasha fails to land.
Pasha pushes Yakimyuk back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pasha lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pasha lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasha swings wildly with an uppercut but Yakimyuk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pasha misses with the head strike.
Pasha lands a hook that snaps the head of Yakimyuk backwards.
Yakimyuk is trying to drag Pasha to the mat but Pasha just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pasha.
Yakimyuk blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yakimyuk working hard to break the clinch.
Yakimyuk throws a head punch that misses.
Yakimyuk blocking some punches.
Pasha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pasha misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Yakimyuk.
Pasha throws a head punch that misses.
Pasha throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakimyuk jumps guard but Pasha stands there with Yakimyuk around his waist. Yakimyuk gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Yakimyuk jumps guard and drags Pasha to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Yakimyuk is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pasha is controlling him.
Yakimyuk tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pasha stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Pasha moves into the clinch successfully.
Pasha swings wildly with an uppercut but Yakimyuk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yakimyuk tries to pull guard but Pasha forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yakimyuk.

Yakimyuk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yakimyuk is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pasha.
Pasha attempts a counter takedown but Yakimyuk avoids it well and moves away.
Yakimyuk throws an overhand right that lands on Pasha's shoulder, as Pasha tries to avoid the shot.

Pasha moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yakimyuk.
Yakimyuk blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pasha has a couple of punches blocked by Yakimyuk.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yakimyuk.
Pasha has a couple of punches blocked by Yakimyuk.
Yakimyuk blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pasha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pasha gets underhooks to prevent Yakimyuk's takedown attempt.
Pasha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pasha scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Yakimyuk blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pasha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pasha lands a left hand that snaps the head of Yakimyuk backwards.
Yakimyuk missing with knees to the body.
Pasha working aggressively here.
Yakimyuk fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Yakimyuk misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pasha lands a right hand.
Pasha swings wildly with an uppercut but Yakimyuk uses good head movement to avoid it.

Yakimyuk breaks the clinch.
Roman Yakimyuk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yakimyuk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yakimyuk misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pasha.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yakimyuk misses with a low kick.
Roman Yakimyuk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yakimyuk throws a series of punches but Pasha moves out of range.
Yakimyuk misses with a looping right.
Pasha is looking to clinch.
Yakimyuk throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Pasha tries to clinch but Yakimyuk moves out of range.
Pasha checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Yakimyuk does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Yakimyuk fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pasha looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Pasha dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Pasha will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A punch combination from Yakimyuk misses.
Yakimyuk jabs at Pasha's body.
Yakimyuk throws a lazy right hand but Pasha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yakimyuk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yakimyuk looks to land a body kick but Pasha moved away.
Yakimyuk sizes up Pasha with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Yakimyuk tries to bum rush Pasha with a series of wild strikes but Pasha uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Pasha here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Yakimyuk tries to keep at a distance but Pasha has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pasha lands with a left to the head.
A short right from Pasha.
Pasha lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pasha throws a punch but it's blocked by Yakimyuk.
Pasha lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pasha.
Ali Pasha has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Pasha misses with a short punch on the inside.

Yakimyuk has picked Pasha up - he's going for a ride! Yakimyuk dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Pasha wants to get back to full guard.
Pasha gets back to full guard.
Yakimyuk distracts Pasha with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Yakimyuk won't allow Pasha to sweep him here.
Pasha has momentary wrist control but Yakimyuk slips an elbow through the middle.
Pasha is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yakimyuk is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakimyuk trying to control here.

Pasha decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Pasha drives through and clinches with Yakimyuk against the cage.
Yakimyuk tries to break free but Pasha pushes him back against the cage.
Pasha misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Pasha fails to land.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pasha.
Yakimyuk jumps guard but Pasha turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Yakimyuk blocking some punches.
Pasha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yakimyuk can do to turn this around?
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yakimyuk.
Yakimyuk tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yakimyuk blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Pasha.
Yakimyuk goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yakimyuk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Pasha gets a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yakimyuk.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pasha.

Yakimyuk gets control of Pasha's arms and successfully pulls guard. Yakimyuk will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Pasha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Pasha drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yakimyuk looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yakimyuk looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yakimyuk!

Pasha manages to get back to half guard.
Pasha regains full guard. Nicely done.
Yakimyuk trying to control but Pasha is working from the bottom.
Roman Yakimyuk has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yakimyuk is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Pasha might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Yakimyuk preventing the sweep.

Pasha looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Yakimyuk passes into side control.
Pasha avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Yakimyuk.
Yakimyuk creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ali Pasha will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Yakimyuk misses with a head kick.
Some wild striking there from Yakimyuk.

Pasha moves into the clinch.
Pasha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yakimyuk blocks an uppercut.
Pasha gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Yakimyuk.
Yakimyuk makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pasha lands a hook that snaps the head of Yakimyuk backwards.
Yakimyuk is trying to pull guard but Pasha has him pressed against the cage.
Yakimyuk goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pasha prevents it.
Ali Pasha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Yakimyuk.
Pasha working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pasha.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yakimyuk.
Yakimyuk blocking some punches.
Pasha throws a head punch that misses.
Pasha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pasha swings wildly with an uppercut but Yakimyuk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yakimyuk jumps guard but Pasha stands there with Yakimyuk around his waist. Yakimyuk gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pasha misses with the head strike.

Yakimyuk breaks from the clinch.
Yakimyuk misses with a wild body shot.
Yakimyuk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pasha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yakimyuk lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Yakimyuk digs a good hook to Pasha's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakimyuk throws a jab when Pasha was well out of range.
Yakimyuk misses the shot to the body.
Pasha fails with an attempt to clinch.

Pasha instigates a clinch.
Yakimyuk blocking some punches.
Pasha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yakimyuk is trying to pull guard but Pasha turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Yakimyuk using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pasha has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Yakimyuk blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pasha throws a punch but it's blocked by Yakimyuk.
Yakimyuk tries to pull guard but Pasha won't allow it.
Yakimyuk jumps guard but Pasha turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Pasha misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pasha lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakimyuk blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yakimyuk.
A head punch on the inside from Pasha fails to land.

Yakimyuk tightens his grip and picks Pasha up, before dumping him to the ground. Pasha manages to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yakimyuk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pasha works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pasha is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Roman Yakimyuk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Pasha is trying to work for a kimura but Yakimyuk is defending well.
Pasha working the head and body with strikes.
Yakimyuk is looking to escape.
Yakimyuk wants to improve his position but Pasha is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pasha uses his free foot to push down on Yakimyuk's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Yakimyuk.
Pasha with a couple of short strikes.
Pasha wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pasha landing strikes from the mount and Yakimyuk is in trouble!
Pasha wants to take Yakimyuk's back but he can't do it this time.
Pasha trying to control but Yakimyuk is having none of it.
Pasha has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Yakimyuk's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ali Pasha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pasha, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ali Pasha!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Ali Pasha made sure he mentioned Spartan Nutrition, along with how happy he was to win his fight.